Troops of the Nigerian Army have uncovered and neutralised a major firearms and drone manufacturing factory operated by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) at Onicha Ulona in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Director Army Public Relations, Maj-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement issued on Tuesday said the intelligence led operation revealed that the dissidents were using the factory to carry out criminal activities to terrorise neighbouring communities and innocent citizens.
He added that upon swooping on the illegal factory, the troops were met with stiff resistance, but overpowered the aemed fighters in the fierce firefight that followed.
Nwachukwu noted that the troops neutralised two of the fighters and recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition.
He revealed that items captured by the troops include a wide range of IPOB/ESN firearms, ammunition, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and a drone manufacturing factory.
Other items recovered are a variety of weapons, drones under construction, with prototypes, Improvised Explosive Device materials, a fully equipped workshop, and several power generating sets.
Nwachukwu added that troops also apprehended four male and two female fighters during the operation.